300-400 level courses are on special topics and are more advanced. They often presuppose some basic knowledge in the field and should be more difficult courses than courses at the 1-199 levels. The department is trying to insure that some 400 level courses, although substantially more difficult, are also small in size; they thus may be suitable for graduate students.
HIST 372 The History of Foreign Aid to Africa
Taught as schedule allows (consult the Course Directory)
This course examines the history, politics, and significance of foreign aid to Africa since the late nineteenth century. While we do not typically think about the European colonial period in Africa in terms of ‘foreign aid,' that era introduced ideas and institutions which formed the foundations for modern aid policies and practices. So we start there and move forward into more contemporary times. In addition to examining the objectives behind foreign assistance and the intentions of donors and recipients, we will look at some of the consequences (intended or unintended) of various forms of foreign aid to Africa over the past century. While not designed to be a comprehensive history of development theory, of African economics, or of international aid organizations, the course will touch on all of these topics.
Previous course work on Africa is strongly advised. Student responsibilities include a weekly on-line journal, three 3-page essays on topics to be assigned, and a 10-12 final paper on a topic related to one of the course's many themes.
